HCPC:  AS14110
DBS: 001893535880

I am Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered and a British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) full member.

I am a practising artist and qualified art psychotherapist who has recently begun living in Northumberland with my family, and our dog Olive.

After qualifying as a Mental Health Nurse in 2003 and working within the NHS to establish various therapeutic arts activities, I returned to Higher Education and was awarded a First Class degree in Fine Art from the University of Reading in 2008.

In 2009 I was offered an AHRC scholarship to train in Art Psychotherapy from the University of Roehampton, qualifying in 2011, and I now have over twenty years’ experience in arts-based care through employment with NHS, the University of Roehampton, Open Door, Mind, Base51, Nottingham City Council, and a number of mainstream and special schools. This has included using the arts with children, young people, adults and older adults in education, the community and inpatient settings.

My experience ranges from running drop-in art sessions at a local community centre to individual sessions with people who are suffering from anxiety or depression. I am able to support those who have experienced bereavement, relationship difficulties, or who are struggling with their gender identity. In particular, I have specialist experience of supporting looked after children and young people who have experienced domestic violence. I have been working with young people with learning difficulties and autism since 2011.

I offer playful sessions designed to provide a safe space for young people to explore their creativity and find new ways of relating and being. I am excited to be a part of Aspire team to support the personal, emotional and social development of children and young people, and their family, and I can’t wait to meet you.

Interests: I love painting, I love the outdoors, I like to swim and sew, not at the same time though…and I know I am too old for this – but I love skateboarding most of all. I have been skateboarding since I was 15, many, many, years ago, and I still can’t do a kickflip!